Hydraulic current-motor.



R. P. CLARKSONL HYDRAULIC CURRENT MOTOR. APPLICATION HLED JUNE [9, 1916- 1,237,868. Patented Aug. 21,1917.

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R. P. CLARKSON.

HYDRAULIC CURRENT MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED 3UNE19. 1915. 1 23x868, 4 Patented Aug. 21, 1917.

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RALPH P. CLARKSON, OF'WOLFVILLE, NOVA SCOTIA CANADA, ASSIGNOR I'O IN'TIEIIEL- NATIONAL STREAM FLOW TURBINE COMPANY, LIMITED, OF WOLFVILLE, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA, A CORPORATION OF NOVA SCOTIA.-

HYDRAULIC CURRENT-MOTOR.

To all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH l CLARnsoN;

a citizen of the United States, residing at WVolfville, Province'of Nova Scotia, Do-

minion of Canada, have lnvented new and useful Hydraulic Cu'rrent-lvlotor, of

which the following is a specification.

Th1s invention relates to a hydrauhc current motor capable of general application but particularly designed and adapted for use in tidal currents and in'navigable rivers where obstruction to the movement ping must be avoided.

It is the general object of my invention to provide an improved hydraulic current of shipmotor of a type," adapted to operate most efliciently when substantially or completely submerged. It is a further object of my invention to embody my improvements in a motor which is essentially self-contained and which requires no extensive preparation of site for its installation. Another object is to provide a current motor which will utilize with high efficiency current flowing in either direction without reversal of the direction of travel of the moving parts of the apparatus. v

vVlf/ll these general objects in view. one

feature of my invention relates to the pro vision of a hj draulic current motor comprising stationary members disposed in different horizontal planes and movable members traveling along a'closed path adjacent said stationary members andtransversely of the current.

Another feature of my invention, in its preferred form, relates to the provision in ,ahydraulic current motorof twosetsof stationary members and a single set of mov able members, said latter members being supported for movement between the two sets offixed members, andsaid fixed members being closely adjacent saicbmoving members on each side thereof, and being adjustable in -position whereby they. are adapted for use. aseither entrance or dis I charge members. k

In the complete embodiment of my in{ vention I provide stationary members 011" each side of and closely adjacent to the. movable members and positioned in super? posed horizontal"planes, and I 'mount the movable members softhat they will travel Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug 21, 1917;

i Application filed June 19, 1916. Serial No. 104,359.

in a closed path past all of the stationaryand more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of my invention and the drawings in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan viewof the principal parts of my improved mechanism;

certain modifications thereof are shown in 1 Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view show-' ing the position assumed by certain of the parts appearing in Fig. 1, upon reversal of the direction of current flow;

Fig. sis a front elevation of a plurality of the movable members or vanes, and of a portion of their supporting mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a pair of entrance guides, a pair of discharge guides, and a pair ofvanes movable between the two sets of stationary guides;

Fig. 5 is a sectional side elevation taken along the line 5+5 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of certain of the stationary guides, looking in the direction of the arrow'o in Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a detail view of one of the rolls for guiding the flexible members which support the movable vanes Fig. 8 shows a modified form of support for the flexible members, and

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of one of the movable vanes and shows means for supporting the vane independently of the flexible member's. a

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 5 and 6, it will be seen that my improved current motor in its preferred form is mounted in a rigid frame having three substantially continuous horizontal partitions or planes 10, Hand 12,spaced apart by suitable supporting members 13.

31 are pivotally mounted. The termsthat the pro-portions of the parts may be varied'to provide the necessary strength and rigidity. This rigid frame forms a support' for all of the operative parts of the mechanism. The machine, being thus selfcontained, may be placed in operation merely .by submerging the frame and the mechaframe into two horizontal compartments; open on opposite sidesso as to permit flowof water therethrough- In these compartmentssets of adjustable stationary entrance guides '20 and 21 and sets of adjustable stationary discharge guides 30 and entrance and discharge apply to the guides as shown in use inv Figs. 1 and 3,

. but upon reversal of current flow the guides 30 andv .31 become the entrance guides as in Figs. 2 and 6 while the-guides 2O and2l I become discharge guides- The relative positionof the upperl and lower setsof guides is clearly shown in Fig. 1, and the parts in I Figs. 1, 4 and 5 are positioned torcooperate with current flowing in the direction of the arrows a and a. The entrance and discharge guides are each pivoted at one .edge to the partitions or planes 10, 11 and 12, as indicated at 22 or 32, and are also each pivotally connected at the outer edge to links I 23 or 33'by which each series of guides may be adjusted in position about the pivots 22 and 32. The links 23 and 33 are provided with extensions 24 and 34 having openings therein, They may be connected with any suitable shifting mechanism, or they maybe moved manually to change the position of I the stationary guides.

c The flowing fluid as itpasses between the entrance guides 20" and 21 engages a series of vanes '40 mounted for; movementtransversely of the current between the entrance and discharge guides. In the preferred form the vanes 40* are curvedand arecarried by link chains or belts 41 and 42 supported on sprockets43, 44, 45 and. 46 mounted in pairs on shafts 47 and 48. These shafts are rotatable in bearings 49 carried by the fixed frame of the machine, and power may be delivered from these rotated shaftsrin any convenient manner, as by a belt driven from the'pulley 50 carried by the shaft 47,.

i Reference to Figs-.3 and 5 will show that thevanes 4'O supported as described are movable in parallel runsin reverse dir'ec-' tions adjacent and between theentrance and discharge guides previously described. The

parts are so arranged that fluid entering between the upper entrance guides 20 will move the vanes 40 in the direction of the arrow 6 in Fig. 3, while fluid entering be-v tween the lower guides 21 will'move the vanes in the direction of the arrow 0 in Fig. 3, these movements combining to give the entiresystem of vanes a continuous movement in a closed path, at the same time continuously rotating the shafts 47 and 48.

The discharge guides 30 and .31 extend practically in the line of the current and may be omitted when the machine is to be used in a river or in: any position where the flow of current is always in the same direction. The use of these. guides is essential, however, whenever a reversal of flow is to beexpected. When the flow is reversed, the discharge guides 30 and 31 are moved by means of the links 33 to the positions shown in Fig. 2, in which positions they will direct the fluid against the movable vanes 40, as indicated by the arrows 00 and 00 in said figure. It will be evident that the fluid thus directed will cause the vanes to movein the same direction in which they moved before the direction of flow was reversed. Atthe same time the guides 20 and 21 which have now become discharge guides are moved to a position substantially in line with the line of flow. Thus, by merely shifting the angular position of the entrance and discharge guides the machine maybe instantly adapted to operate with the current'fiowing in the opposite direction, and the vanes .40

will bedriven in the same direction under.

all conditions.

The links 23 and 33 may be connected in pairs by levers 35 pivoted at 36' whereby proper relative position of the cooperating guides is assured. The guides may, be shifted, not only when thecurrent is reversed, but also to control the speed of the motor, as any partial movement of the guides toward reverse position, without reverse of current, will reduce the speed, power and efficiency of the machine to a corresponding extent. Stop pins 51 may be provided in the fixed frame for limiting the movement of the guides, and for resisting the pressure thereon when in entrance position. r

1 While I have described the 11ers as as be accomplished automaticallyby securing a guide or vane 52 to each link at such an angle that the pressure of the current flowing in either direction will shift the link and the guides connected therewith to the corresponding entrance or discharge positions. p I

In order to resist the s dewlse pressure of the current upon the vanes 40 a series .of

grooved rolls 53 aremounted upon the fixed frame in position to engage the chains 41 and 41-2 at successive points during their travel from one supporting sprocket wheel to the other. These rolls are formed as double reverse cones and are thus adapted to position the chains and vanes vertically as well as to resist the sidewise pressure thereon. I I

In the modified form shownin Fig. 8, I provide rolls 54 at intervals upon the chains 41 and 12, these rolls cooperating with guide ways secured to the fixed frame and engaging the rolls during their passage through the upper and lower compartments. The guide ways 55' are each provided with a rib or projection 56 opposite the center of the roll 5% upon which the sidewise thrust is received with reduced friction.

In Fig. 9 I have shown an additional method of supporting the vanes during their passagethrough themachine, by providing a series of rolls 60 projecting beyond the upper and lower edges of the vane, and engaging fixed ways or tracks 61 secured to the' partitions' 10, ll and12. The rolls 60 are provided with flanges and thus engage the sides as well as the edges of the tracks 61. The rolls are mounted in reverse pairs and thus resist' sidewise thrust in either direction, as well as position the vanes vertically.

The partitions 10, 11 and 12, in addition to supporting the several parts of the mechanism, also perform an important function in dividlng the current flow 111 horlzontal planes into separate portlons, so that the fluid entering the upper compartment may be diverted in one lateral directiomjand the fluid entermgthe lower compartment may i be diverted in a substantiallyreverse direction. The middle partition is cut away at its ends to provide room for the sprocket wheels and the supporting shafts, and to permit the vanes 40 to turn around the sprockets at the opposite ends of their path of travel. i 1 i Q It will be noted that the stationary guides i when in normal entrance position gradually (:lecrease the cross sectional area or the-passages through which the-fluid approaches the vanes, whereby the velocity of flow is substantially increased; This increase of velocity, confined to the plane of the vanes by the partitions '11, 12 and 13; enables me to attain high eliiciency'and great powerin a machine of reasonable dimensions.

It is :toundby experiment that the efficiency of the machine is noticeably increased when the compartments are fully; submerged. The machine willoperate successfully but at a lower eiii'clency when either compartment is only partially submerged. My improved motor is thus adapted for use in tidal currents where it maybe placed 'sub any direction forming a substantial angle 7 thereto.

Havingthusdescribed my invention and certain modifications thereof, it will be evident that other changes and modifications can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the claims, and I do not wish to be otherwise limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I doclaim is z- 1. A hydraulic current motor comprising a frame adapted to be fixed in the current, a plurality of guides arranged in series transversely of the current and in superposed horizontal p1anes,means to secure each of said guides in said frame in a stationary position at an angle to the line of the current, a set of vanes movable in a vertical plane transversely of the current 1 andadjacent all of said stationary guides successively, connections between said vanes, and means for delivering power from said movable vanes, each portion of water which passes through said guides acting once only on said vanes.

2. A hydraulic current motor comprising a frame adapted to be fixed in the current, two sets of guides arranged in parallel series transversely of the current and in superposed horizontal planes, means to secure said guides in stationary position in saidii'ram'e, theguides of one set being positioned at a certain angle to the line of the current and the guides of the second set being positioned at a reverse angle to the line of thecurrent, a set of vanes movable in a closed path'in opposite parallel runs transversely of the current and past said two sets of guides successively, connections between said vanes, and means whereby power may be delivered from said movablevanes, each portion of water which passes through said guides acting once only on said vanes. e

3. A hydraulic current motor comprising a frame adapted to be fixed in the current, a set of entrance guides secured in said frame, a set of discharge guides secured in sald frame and a set'of vanes mounted for movement in a vertical plane transversely of the current between said two sets of guides, said entrance and discharge guides being closely adjacent said movable vanes on each side thereof. and, being, adjustable in position,

whereby the direction of. current flow may be reversed and the motor continue operative withoutchange in the direction of movement of said vanes, 1 I

a. A hydraulic current motor comprising a vframe adapted to be fixed inthe current, a set of entrance guides secured in said frame, a set "of discharge guides secured in. said frame in the same plane, and a setof vanes mounted for movement transversely of the current between said two sets. of. guides andin a plane substantially at right angles to said first mentioned plane, said guides beingclosely adjacent'said movable vanes on both sides. thereof and being adjustable in position and being so shaped that the entrance guides when adjusted will be effective as discharge guides. andfthe discharge guides when adjusted will be effective as entrance guides upon. reversal of the current flow, while the direction of the movement of the vanes'remains unchanged.

5;. A. hvdraulic current motor. comprising a frame adapted to be fixed 1n the current, two sets of guides mounted therem'ma smgle plane, a set .of vanesmovable between said two sets of guides in a plane normal to the plane of said gu des, and means to ad'- just and secure said guldes 1n said frame,

whereby" either set of guides may be rendered effective, as either entrance or discharge connections whereby saidvanes pass adj acent. the guides in onecompartment in one d1rec tion and adjacent the guides in the second compartment in the opposlte direction and means to deliver power from saidmovable I and formed in upper and: lower compartvanes.

7. A hydraulic a frame adapted to be fixed in the current ments open on opposite sidesfor the flow of water therethrough, said compartments being separated by a substantiallycontinuous partition, a set of guides in each compartment, means to secure said guides in reverse positions {insaid compartments, '3; set of vanes, connections forsupportlng and guld- ,ing said-'vanes,-.rotatable supports for said;

connections, whereby said-vanes are movable in a closed path with parallel reverse runs adjacent said guides, and means to deliver. power, from said movable vanea, I U

8, Ahydraulie current motor comprising current motor comprising.

a. frameadapted to befixed in the current and formed in upper and lower compartments open on opposite sides for the flow of water therethrough, a set of guides in each compartment, means to'seoure said guides in reverse positions in said compartments, a set of vanesmovable in a vertical planesuccessively through saidnpper and lower .compartments, connections-between said vanes, sprockets for said. vanes and connections, horizontal shafts supporting saidsprockets, and means to deliver power, from said shafts.

9. A hydraulic current motor comprising a frame adapted to be fixed in the current and formedin upper and lower compartments open onopposite sides for thefioW of water therethrough, entrance and discharge guides ineach compartment, means to secure said guides in different positions whereby the functions of the entrance and discharge guides may be readily reversed, a set of vanes, means to supportsaid vanes for passage successively through said upper and lower compartments adjacent and between said en-- trance and discharge guides, rotatable supports for said means, and means to deliver power from said movable vanes and rotae tablesupports. p

10. A hydraulic current motor comprising a frame adaptedito be fixed in the current, entrance guides fixed to said frame and disposed in a horizontalplane, a set of vanes, connections efiectiv'e to support said vanes for movement in a vertical plane and for passage successively past said guides, rota table supports for said means, and devices for guidingsaid vanes during their movement past said guides from one rotatable support to another.

11. Ahydraulic current motor comprising a frame adapted to'be fixed in the current, entrance guides fixed in said frame, a'set-of vanes, flexiblemeans to support said vanes for passage past. said guides, a set of rolls mounted on opposite edgesof eachvane and fixed ways on saidframe positioned for engagement by said rolls as said vanes pass said guides,.whereb ,r said vanes are held by said rolls and ways from displacement vertically or in the line of current.

12 A hydraulic current motor comprising stationary guides disposed in superposed. compartments having substantially continuous upper andlower inclosing members but open at opposite. sides thereof a. series of vanes movable in a vertical plane transversely of the current through said compart-, ments successively, and means for adjusting said guides whereby said guides may be moved from their most efiicient entrance position to their most efiicient discharge posi tion, thereby adapting said motor to a vreversal of current fiow, each portion of water passing through said. guides acting once only onsaid vanes,

its

ous upper and lower inclosingrmembers but open at opposite sides thereof, a series of vanes movable transversely of the current, through said compartments successlvely, and means for ad ustmg said guides at substantially reverse angles, said compartments dividing the flowing Water into separate portions each effective to act upon said vanes once only and being freely discharged therefrom. 1 r I 14. A hydraulic current motor comprising upper and lower compartments, separated by a substantially continuous partition, reversely disposed: guides in said compartments, and a series of vanes movable in a substantially vertical plane through said compartments successively, said compartments dividing the flowing water into separate'portions each effective to act upon said vanes once only.

15. A hydraulic current motor comprising a set of guides effective to divert one portion of the flow at an angle to the line of current, a second superposed set of guideseilective to divert aseparate portion of the flow at a substantially reverse angle to the line of current, and a set of vanes movable successively in opposite runs past said two sets of guides, each portion of water acting once only on the vanes.

16. A hydraulic current motor comprising a set of movable vanes, supporting members for said vanes whereby said vanes are movable in a closed path in opposite runs, and means for directing the flow against said movable vanes in the opposite runs at substantially reverse angles to the line of current, whereby each vane is acted upon by difierent portions of the flowing water throughout the larger part of its circuit, each portion of water acting once only on said vanes and being freely discharged therefrom.

17. A hydraulic current motor comprising a set of movable vanes and two sets of stationary guides, one set of said guides being positioned at each side of said movable vanes and closely adjacent thereto, and said guides being adjustably positioned whereby current flow in either of two opposite directions may be utilized with high efliciency to carry the movable vanesin a single direction, and may be freely discharged after acting once only on said vanes.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto afiixed my signature.

RALPH P. CLARKSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

